Maria Creveling didn't just play a video game. She basically shattered a glass ceiling that most people didn't even want to admit existed. If you followed the pro scene back in 2015, you knew her as Remilia. She was the "Thresh Queen," a support player whose hooks were so pinpoint they felt like heat-seeking missiles.
But behind the highlight reels, things were messy. Really messy.
Remilia League of Legends history isn't just about a girl who made it to the big leagues. It is a story of extreme talent meeting a brutal, often toxic infrastructure. She was the first woman and the first transgender person to ever play in the North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). That should’ve been a triumphant moment. Instead, it became a cautionary tale about how the esports industry treats its pioneers.
The Rise of the Madwife
Before she was Remilia, she was "Yuno." She spent years grinding the North American ladder, eventually hitting the top tier of Challenger. You don't get there by accident. For a long time, she was known as the "Madwife," a nod to the legendary Korean support MadLife. If you gave her Thresh, the game was basically over. She could predict Flashes and dashes with a weird, instinctual accuracy that made pro veterans look like rookies.
In 2015, she joined Misfits, a team that eventually rebranded to Renegades.
They weren't just a group of friends; they were a powerhouse. Along with players like Alex Ich and Crumbz, Remilia fought through the Challenger Series. They dominated. When they finally beat Team Coast in the summer finals to qualify for the 2016 LCS Spring Split, it was history in the making.
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Honestly, she didn't even want to be there. At least, not on the big stage.
Remilia was incredibly open about her anxiety. She repeatedly told fans she just wanted to prove she could get there. She wanted to show that a woman could compete at the highest level and then, basically, disappear. But the hype train was already moving too fast. The community pressure was immense, and the spotlight was blinding.
The Reality of the LCS Stage
When the 2016 Spring Split started, Remilia was on the starting roster. She played under the name "Remi." But the environment was hostile. If she played well, people ignored it. If she missed a hook? The Twitch chat and Reddit threads would explode with transphobic vitriol and sexist garbage. It was a constant barrage of hate that most of us couldn't handle for five minutes, let alone while trying to compete for millions of viewers.
She only lasted six games.
Why She Actually Left Renegades
The official reason given at the time was "anxiety and self-esteem issues." That was true, but it was barely the tip of the iceberg. Years later, the darker details of her time with Renegades started to leak out.
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The team's co-owner at the time, Chris Badawi, had reportedly made a deal with her. He promised to pay for her gender reassignment surgery if she helped the team qualify for the LCS. This sounds like a supportive move, right? Not exactly.
The surgery, which took place in Thailand, was reportedly botched. Remilia later shared that she was left with permanent nerve damage and chronic pain. She was expected to perform on the LCS stage while her body was literally screaming in agony. It’s hard to focus on a mini-map when you can’t even sit comfortably in a gaming chair.
Riot Games eventually banned Badawi and forced the sale of Renegades, citing an "unsafe environment." While they didn't name Remilia specifically in the initial ruling, the connection was eventually made clear through various reports and Remilia’s own social media posts. She felt used. Like a tool to get a spot in the LCS, only to be tossed aside when the "investment" became too complicated.
A Legacy Cut Short
After leaving the LCS, Remilia didn't just quit gaming. She tried to find her footing again. She played in Latin America for Kaos Latin Gamers and did some substituting for FlyQuest. She spent a lot of time streaming on Twitch, playing Teamfight Tactics and League, trying to rebuild a life away from the toxic glare of the pro circuit.
She was still a god-tier support, but the fire for professional play had mostly been extinguished by the trauma of her first experience.
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On December 27, 2019, Maria "Remilia" Creveling passed away in her sleep at the age of 24. Her close friend, esports journalist Richard Lewis, broke the news. The community response was a mix of genuine mourning and a sudden, sharp realization of how much they had failed her.
What the Industry Learned (And What It Didn't)
Esports has a short memory. We love a "first," but we rarely protect them. Remilia's career showed that having the mechanical skill isn't enough if the support system around the player is rotten.
- Player Safety: Teams now have (theoretically) better oversight, but the "gaming house" culture can still be isolating.
- Online Harassment: While Riot and other developers have improved moderation, the "faceless mob" on social media remains a primary deterrent for marginalized players.
- Medical Ethics: The Renegades situation was a wake-up call about the power dynamics between young, vulnerable players and wealthy owners.
Why Remilia League of Legends Still Matters
You can’t talk about the history of the LCS without talking about her. She wasn't just a diversity hire or a gimmick; she was a legitimate Tier-1 talent who was forced to navigate a world that wasn't ready for her.
She proved that the skill gap between genders in gaming is a myth. Her Thresh was world-class. Her game sense was elite. If she had been born into a different era of esports—one with more empathy and better player protections—who knows what she could have achieved?
Her legacy isn't just the hooks. It’s the door she kicked open for every woman and non-binary player who has entered the scene since.
Actionable Takeaways for the Community
If you want to honor Remilia’s legacy, the best thing you can do is help build a better environment for the next generation of players.
- Call out the "casual" toxicity. When you see transphobic or sexist comments in your solo queue games or on Discord, don't just ignore it. Silence is basically an endorsement.
- Support marginalized creators. Follow and support women and LGBTQ+ pro players and streamers. Representation only works if there is a community there to sustain it.
- Hold organizations accountable. Don't just cheer for a team's wins. Pay attention to how they treat their players, especially their substitutes and academy rosters.
- Educate yourself on player rights. If you’re an aspiring pro, read your contracts. Understand the power dynamics. Don't let your "dream" be used against you by predatory owners.
Remilia's story is heartbreaking, but it's a part of League history that shouldn't be polished over. She was a pioneer. She was a queen. And she deserved a lot better than what she got.